Two snowstorms begin at the same time in Albany and Buffalo. Albany begins the day with 5 inches of snow on the ground and Buffalo begins the same day with 2 inches of snow on the ground. It is snowing at a rate of
0.8 inches per hour in Albany and 1.4 inches per hour in Buffalo.

(a) Write an equation that represents the total number of inches of snow on the ground in Albany and
Buffalo during the course of these snowstorms.

Let x represent the number of hours, and y represent the total
accumulation of snow, in inches.

(b) Determine the number of hours, x, that would pass before Albany and Buffalo have the same
amount of snow on the ground.